Audiobook Review: A Fine Year For Murder: Lauren Carr

Narrated by CJ McAllister

After months of marital bliss, Jessica Faraday and Murphy Thornton are still discovering and adjusting to their life together. Settled in their new home, everything appears to be perfect … except in the middle of the night when, in darkest shadows of her subconscious, a deep secret from Jessica’s past creeps to the surface to make her strike out at Murphy.

When investigative journalist Dallas Walker tells the couple about her latest case, known as the Pine Bridge Massacre, they realize Jessica may have witnessed the murder of a family living near a winery owned by distant relatives she was visiting and suppressed the memory.

Determined to uncover the truth and find justice for the murder victims, Jessica and Murphy return to the scene of the crime with Dallas Walker, a spunky bull-headed Texan. Can this family reunion bring closure for a community touched by tragedy or will this prickly get-together bring an end to the Thorny Rose couple?

Elsie’s Rating – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Jessica Faraday and hubby Murphy Thornton are happily married. Murphy should get hazard pay though because Jessica has a strange habit of assaulting him in her sleep. Maybe not every night, but there’s a pattern to these outbursts. It’s all deeply rooted in an incident from Jessica’s childhood and it‘s going to take a combined effort from our couple to unravel this mystery!

A Fine Year for Murder is the second book in the Thorny Rose Mystery series. I enjoyed the first audiobook in the series, but this book is even better. I love the rapport that Jessica and Murphy have. You can tell Murphy cares deeply about his wife and he has her back at every turn. He will defend her to anyone, including her tough as nails father, Mac Faraday. Mac, a former homicide detective uses a heavy hand as he tries to get to the bottom of this mystery.

At just over 10 hours this audiobook is the perfect blend of action, suspense, and family angst. It’s narrated by CJ McAllister and I can’t imagine anyone else narrating this series. After listening to the first book in the series, hearing CJ’s narration is like sitting back and listening to an old friend read a story. Sound and audio quality are top-notch in this production and I anxiously await the next book in the series.

This audiobook was gifted to me in exchange for an unbiased review!

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty titles across three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, romance, and humor.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, son, and four dogs (including the real Gnarly) on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.